Introduction to Geographical Information Science

Outline

The course “Introduction to Geographical Information Science” is focused on discussing the core concepts of Geographical Information Science. We take a realist perspective, and ask ourselves the question: What are the different types of geographical data, and how are these types representable in computers?. What we call “geographical data” includes different kinds of data. We observe the natural world when we get data about topography, landscapes, the oceans and the atmosphere. Sometimes we represent data from nature as a continuous variation, as when we build digital terrain models. In other situations, we give names to natural features, as when we say “Mont Blanc”. We also create geographical reality, as when we draw boundaries of countries and of land parcels. We also measure facts of the social world, when we take a census and locate crimes. We also build continuous distributions out of social reality, when

Motivation

“The biggest problem with models is the fact that they are made by
humans who tend to shape or use their models in ways that mirror their
own notion of what a desirable outcome would be.” (John Firor, formed director of NCAR, cited in Myanna Lahsen's paper “Seductive Simulations”.

There are certain similarities between a work of ﬁction and a model: Just as we may wonder how much the characters in a novel are drawn
from real life and how much is artiﬁce, we might ask the same of a model; How much is based on observation and measurement of accessible
phenomena, how much is based on informed judgment, and how much is convenience? (Naomi Oreskes, professor of History of Science, also cited by Myanna Lahsen).

“A model is clear, decisive, and positive, but it is believed by no one but the man who created it. Observations, on the other hand, are messy, inexact things, which are believed by everyone except the man who did that work”. Harlow Shapley, American astronomer

Conclusion: to understand what models are, a scientist needs to be able to develop models himself. He needs to master computer programs that allow him to grasp the basics of modelling activity. He needs to be understand the different techniques used in modelling and their limitations.

Software

To build the models, we will use the TerraME software. The software are supporting material are available at the TerraME site.